The annual Winterfest celebration in downtown Parkersburg will be held Saturday after the Christmas Parade. Winterfest includes entertainment, special hours at downtown restaurants and fireworks, such as these at the 2017 show. (File Photo)

PARKERSBURG — Downtown Parkersburg will burst with holiday cheer on Saturday for the annual Winterfest celebration that will be held after the Parkersburg Christmas parade.

Winterfest, now in its fifth year, was created to draw people downtown for an evening of family fun.

Among the activities are free tours of downtown museums, live performances throughout the evening, a train ride on the Grand Central Express and activities for children. All activities will take place in the downtown.

A ceremony will be held at 6 p.m. at Bicentennial Park that includes a performance by Schrader Youth Ballet, a tree lighting ceremony and fireworks. After Winterfest concludes, participants are invited to St. Francis Xavier Church for a holiday concert starting at 7 p.m.

Winners in the Christmas Parade will be announced at the Winterfest Ceremony.

Some downtown restaurants also will be open for dinner before, during or after the event. Participating are Brunello in the Blennerhassett Hotel, the Crystal Cafe, Jimmy Johns, Maka Mia, Market Street Yarn & Crafts, the Parkersburg Brewing Co., the Coffee Bar and Unity Cafe.

Sponsors supporting Winterfest are CSL Plasma, Dupont, United Way Alliance of the Mid-Ohio Valley and WVU Medicine Camden Clark.

Free admission will be observed at the Blennerhassett Museum of Regional History, the Oil & Gas Museum and the Mid-Ohio Valley Model Railroad Museum.

Live Performances and Music, sponsored by Dupont, will be held at Bicentennial Park.

Kids Craft Station, sponsored by CSL Plasma, will be held at the Blennerhassett Hotel in the tent near the hotel patio. Pictures with Santa, sponsored by the United Way, will be offered on the second floor of the city building.

“Watch a Christmas Movie,” sponsored by Downtown Parkersburg Maka Mia, will run on a continuous loop throughout the evening in the City Council chambers on the second floor of the city building.

Train Rides, sponsored by WVU Medicine Camden Clark, will be located at Bicentennial Park. Food Trucks also will be located at Bicentennial Park.